Italian
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced the start of a new round of negotiations with Iran scheduled for today, Monday, suggesting a preference for a diplomatic path over further military escalation. While confirming the start of the talks, the American leader did not provide details on the location of the meeting or the representatives who would participate in the negotiations.
TEHRAN. The announcement comes after days of heightened tension in the Persian Gulf. In recent days, Trump had stated that he had suspended a possible attack against Iranian targets, claiming he wanted to give space to diplomacy in the hope of quickly reaching an agreement that would allow the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and address the issue of Tehran’s nuclear program.
On the Iranian front, the Tehran government has announced that negotiations with Oman to define a new transit method through the Strait of Hormuz are now in the final stages.
The spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, Esmaeil Baqaei, explained on State television that the parties are working on a shared path that takes into account the sovereignty and security interests of both countries. However, he clarified that any potential agreement would not mean a return to the situation prior to the outbreak of the conflict and would not entail a complete reopening of the strait.
The Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has also confirmed that negotiations with Muscat are progressing towards a conclusion, although he did not provide further details. Oman, for its part, has not made any official statements.
Tension still high in the Strait of Hormuz
Despite the signs of diplomatic openness, the situation in the area remains extremely delicate. In recent hours, a tanker reported an explosion near the Strait of Hormuz. According to the British center UK Maritime Trade Operations, the crew and the vessel were not harmed.
Data on maritime traffic shows that the passage of ships through the strait continues to slow down after recent episodes of violence. Meanwhile, in the Red Sea, two tankers loaded with Saudi crude have crossed the Bab el-Mandeb strait despite Houthi threats against the region’s oil exports.
Trump: “Better an agreement than an attack”
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One during the return to Washington, Trump recounted that he had opted against a new military intervention after consulting with some of the key Gulf allies, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
The American President reported having discussed directly with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who expressed a preference for a negotiated solution, considering the consequences of further offensives to be unpredictable.
Trump also avoided setting a deadline by which Iran must reach an agreement, merely confirming the start of talks.
Oil falls after the announcement
The opening to dialogue had immediate effects on energy markets. Upon the reopening of Asian trading, the price of Brent fell by more than 4%, dropping to around 83 dollars per barrel.
The Strait of Hormuz is indeed one of the main energy hubs in the world: before the crisis began, about 20% of the global trade in oil and liquefied natural gas passed through that corridor. The restrictions imposed in recent months have fueled concerns about supplies and contributed to the rise in energy prices and inflation.
Israel maintains a hard line
Despite the possible restart of dialogue between Washington and Tehran, Israel reaffirms its position. Energy Minister Eli Cohen has confirmed the existence of close coordination with the United States on security and intelligence matters, emphasizing that Israel will continue to act independently should Iran attempt to revive its nuclear program or develop ballistic missiles.
In recent days, Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington. According to Israeli sources, during the summit all possible options were examined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, from diplomatic pressure to economic sanctions, and even the potential use of force. However, Tehran continues to assert that its nuclear program is solely for civilian purposes.
